News
No New States as House Committee Rejects 31 Creation Requests – Deputy Speaker
By Gloria Ikibah
The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has stated that none of the 31 requests submitted for state creation met the constitutional requirements.
Kalu, who also serves as Deputy Speaker, made this known during a two-day retreat organised by the 10th House in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, supported by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday.
The retreat which holds from February 20 – 23, 2025, provided a platform to assess pending amendment bills and plan the next steps in the constitutional review process.
While acknowledging the significance of state creation in Nigeria’s governance structure, Kalu noted that the submitted requests did not meet the legal criteria for consideration.
He said the committee has extended the deadline for submissions to March 5, 2025, to allow for further input and possible revisions and that further extensions might be considered, depending on the retreat’s outcome.
Kalu also disclosed that the committee was currently reviewing 151 constitutional amendment bills, reflecting lawmakers’ ongoing efforts to refine governance in Nigeria. While some bills have advanced to the second reading, others remain at the initial stage.
Deputy Speaker also identified duplication of bills as a key challenge in the ongoing amendment process, and noted that some bills covered similar issues under different sponsors, while others overlapped in subject matter. To streamline efforts and avoid redundancy, the committee categorized the bills into key thematic areas:
- Federal Structure and Power Devolution
- Local Government Autonomy
- Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation
- Nigerian Police and Security Architecture
- Comprehensive Judicial Reforms
- Electoral Reforms
- Gender Issues and Human Rights
- State Creation
According to Kalu, this classification will help lawmakers focus on amendments that align with national interest and legislative priorities.
RRecognising the link between constitutional amendments and electoral laws, the committee invited the leadership of the House and Senate Committees on Electoral Matters to the retreat.
Kalu stressed that any proposed changes to the Electoral Act requiring constitutional amendments must pass through his committee to ensure a smooth legislative process.
As part of the next phase, Zonal and National Public Hearings have been scheduled across the six geopolitical zones to allow Nigerians to contribute to the amendment process. These hearings will hold in:
- North Central: Nasarawa and Niger States
- North East: Borno and Gombe States
- North West: Kaduna and Sokoto States
- South East: Enugu and Imo States
- South South: Bayelsa and Cross River States
- South West: Lagos and Ondo States
Kalu therefore urged lawmakers to engage diligently, ensuring the final amendments reflect the will of Nigerians.
He reiterated the committee’s commitment to a transparent and inclusive process, expressing confidence that their work would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and governance.
The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, commended the committee’s efforts and reaffirmed PLAC’s support for the review process.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has expressed deep grief over the passing away of former Super Eagles skipper and coach, Christian Chukwu, describing him as a football icon, titan, and phenomenon.
Reacting to the development on Saturday Mbah said: “I received with a deep sense of loss the passing away of Chairman Christian Chukwu. It is a personal loss to us as Ndi Enugu, his home state, and indeed to Nigeria as a nation and Africa as a continent.
“Christian Chukwu was a national icon, a football titan, field marshal, and phenomenon. His exploits as a footballer united the country across ethnic divides and creed.
He was patriotism personified, serving the nation and Africa unreservedly both as a player and coach of the highly successful Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and Super Eagles of Nigeria, which he captained to victory as Green Eagles at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON. He also coached the Harambee Stars, Kenya’s senior male national team, among others.
“Chairman, as he was fondly called, gave his all not only to the nation but to the rest of Africa. He wrote his name in gold in the annals of the history of Nigerian and African football.
Our dear legend has gone the way of all mortals, but the fond memories and the pride he gave Ndi Igbo and Nigeria as a whole will be cherished forever.
“My heart goes out to his family, Ndi Enugu, the Nigerian sports community and the entire nation over this irreplaceable loss. May the good Lord grant his soul eternal repose.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
No fewer than seven people lost their lives on Saturday following the detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
The deadly incident occurred along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, a notorious route that cuts through the Sambisa Forest—an area long plagued by insurgent activities.
The victims were part of a convoy of vehicles being escorted by the military from Damboa to Maiduguri.
According to eyewitness accounts and local sources, the explosion struck as the convoy—organized to provide safe passage through the volatile region—was underway. Several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Maiduguri for urgent treatment.
The Maiduguri-Damboa Road serves as a vital link between the state capital and several local government areas in southern Borno, including Chibok and Gwoza.
For years, the route remained closed to civilian traffic due to persistent terrorist threats. However, under the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum, the road was reopened, with military escorts deployed to accompany travelers twice weekly after clearing the area for explosives.
Saturday’s attack raises fresh concerns about the safety of the corridor, despite consistent military presence. The blast also comes just days after Governor Zulum publicly raised alarm over renewed Boko Haram activity in the state, highlighting the persistent threat the group poses to peace and development in the region.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident, while investigations and security operations in the area continue.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has initiated a search following the theft of a black Toyota Hilux vehicle belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which was stolen during Friday’s Juma’at prayers in Abuja.
It was gathered that the vehicle was parked around 1:05pm opposite the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) complex in Area 10, while the official attended prayers at a nearby mosque.
Security source, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the incident via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, revealing that the ONSA official returned from the mosque only to find the vehicle missing.
According to him, a sources said the theft was immediately reported to the Garki Police Division at approximately 2:00 p.m., leading to a swift response by law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command promptly activated a stop-and-search operation at various checkpoints and across all entry and exit points in the capital city.
Police authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing and all efforts are being made to apprehend the culprits and recover the vehicle.
The Command said it had intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen Hilux.
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